Iraq cleared of nuclear weapons, but sanctions stay
Iraq-UN, Politics, 4/28/1998

The UN Security Council did not reach consensus on the removal of economic sanctions in place against Iraq, despite Iraq's call for an end to the sanctions program.

In the six-month review of the sanctions yesterday, the UN Security Council dealt with reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency, which said Iraq had produced its final declaration on its nuclear program and no new evidence was found of other activities, and from UNSCOM chairman Richard Butler, which said that little progress had been made in UNSCOM weapons inspections in Iraq.

The French Foreign Ministry's spokesperson said that in light of the IAEA's findings, "What we wish is for the Security Council to adopt a decision dedicated to the passage of continuous control of the nuclear aspect, and act upon progress and the fact that the IAEA's report is satisfactory. We also hope that the Security Council will engage in a consideration concerning the conditions that will permit, when the time comes, a similar measure concerning the ballistic sector."

She also noted that while France feels the nuclear aspect of the issue is ready to move into a new phase of monitoring, "We are not ready for this at all in the chemical and biological domains."

US White House spokesman Mike McCurry said that in spite of the IAEA's positive report, the US believes "the conditions that would be necessary for broad-based sanctions relief don't present themselves."

US ambassador to the UN Bill Richardson had said that there has been progress in "access" to sites but not in "providing information." The US and Richard Butler are requesting that Iraq prove that it has destroyed the weapons it claims to have destroyed.

The UNSCOM report cited a continuing need for inspections to verify Iraq's disarmament. And Butler will be providing further technical information to the Security Council.

The Security Council also expressed concern regarding the issues of Kuwaiti prisoners of war that resulted from Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and the holding of Kuwaitis. Iraq had recently denied that it still holding any Kuwaitis and accused Kuwait of using this issue for political reasons.

With the clearance of Iraq by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the focus will now shift to "passive monitoring" of nuclear related sites. It is less clear whether the intensive Security Council discussions that will be continuing for the coming days will likely lead to consensus on other issues relating to chemical and biological inspections.

Iraq has called for lifting the sanctions after UNSCOM inspectors carried out initial inspections at Iraqi presidential sites according to an agreement negotiated by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan with Iraq. Foreign Minister Mohammed Saeed Sahaf last week called for Arab states to support Iraq's efforts to get the sanctions lifted.

Sahaf today said that Iraq "has complied with resolution 687", and added that Iraq will be providing more technical information to UNSCOM to show that Iraq has complied, and blamed the US and Britain for the suffering of the Iraqi people that is perpetuated by the sanctions, Sahaf remarked.

Previous Stories:
  Iraq: Lifting UN sanctions is a legitimate right   (4/24/1998)
  US opposes lifting of Iraq sanctions   (4/24/1998)
  Iraq accuses Kuwait of using war prisoner's issue for politics   (4/23/1998)

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